Crores of red crabs surface on Odisha’s Puri coast

The sudden surfacing of around three crore rare red crabs on the Puri coast has left environmentalists flabbergasted.

Red crabs or horseshoe crabs have been seen in large numbers in Chilika, Nuanai, Ramchandi and Devi estuaries along the Puri coastline with around one crore alone at the Devi river estuary on the Devi island.

While the real reason behind this unnatural phenomenon is being examined, researchers have said that red crabs, native of Christmas Island in Australia are migrating to other shores around the world.

However, persons in the know feel the unnatural phenomenon of appearance of these crabs in such large numbers could be due to climate change.

“It’s good news that after nearly 30 years these red crabs have returned to Devi river estuary”, said Shobhakar Behera, a researcher on red crabs.

Red crabs search for their food in river estuaries, mangrove forests and vegetation growing on saline marshy lands along the coast, he added.

The sudden appearance of red crabs in such large numbers is a special attraction both for the tourists and the locals.